In Russia, 40 volunteer battalions were created to fight in Ukraine

In Russia, more than 40 ‘nominal’ volunteer battalions have already been created to fight in Ukraine, Kommersant writes today. According to the newspaper, such battalions began to be created in regions of Russia since the spring. Their names refer to the territorial area to which they belong and as a rule residents of the specific area are included in them.

For example, in Saint-Petersburg volunteer divisions were formed with the names “Krostad” (Krostand), “Neva” “Pavlovsk”, in Yakutia the battalion “Bootur” (received its name from Elley Bootur, ancestor of the Yakutians), in the region Primorye of the Russian Far East received the name “Tigr” (Tiger) etc.

Military units, made up of local residents who would fight in Ukraine long before the developments in that country, began to form in Chechnya. These units participated in hostilities from the first days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. For example, the special forces units called “Akhmat” were named after the former president of Chechnya Akhmat Kadyrov. On June 26, the current president of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, announced the creation of four new battalions to be sent to Ukraine under the names “North-Akhmat”, “South-Akhmat”, “West-Akhmat” and “East-Akhmat”.

According to a source in the newspaper, the military units are formed based on the territorial area because it is easier to work with the volunteers. Central government officials asked regional authorities to provide information and financial support. Asked by the Kommersant newspaper if there is a possibility of problems arising after the end of the so-called “special military operation with such units”, its source replied as follows: “Here the principle of the lesser evil prevails. Of course, we will continue to fight for a long time and in various directions. Typically, volunteers sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense for a few months and acquire the status of a contractor. Their fees vary from region to region from 130,000 to 300,000 per month. (2,100 – 4,800 euros per month). The contracted volunteers, according to the Russian newspaper, will have additional pay for successfully conducting hostilities and for daily expenses of 8,000 rubles (about 130 euros).

Last week the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) announced that Russian regions had begun delaying payments to volunteers. According to ISW experts, the change in payment terms may be related to the fact that the authorities are afraid that volunteers may refuse to go to Ukraine after receiving the money. In addition, the funds available to the regional authorities may not be sufficient to pay the volunteer in the first place.

At the end of last week, more than 40 volunteers of the “Atal” battalion from Chuvashia complained to the president of that republic that the authorities did not pay them the salary promised when they signed the contract, nor the daily expenses.

Sources: Kommersant. Sboboda.org